The ancestors of the first family in ancient Scotland to use the name Shanks lived among the Boernicians. Shanks is a name for a person with long legs, or a peculiar manner of gait. Shanks is a nickname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Nicknames form a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and can refer directly or indirectly to one's personality, physical attributes, mannerisms, or even their habits of dress. It derives from the Old English word sceanca, which means shin bone, or leg. While this word has survived in Scotland, it has been replaced in England, by the Old Norse word leggr, which means leg.

Shanks Early Origins

The surname Shanks was first found in Midlothian, where the family held a family seat from very ancient times. They were designated as 'Shank of that Ilk" meaning an ancient Clan who possessed lands of that same name. Murdoch Shank, son of the first recorded chief of the Clan of Shank in Mid Lothian, was granted the lands of Kinghorn in Fife by a Charter from King Robert the Bruce of Scotland in the year 1319 for his allegiance and loyalty of the clan in his fight for the crown of Scotland.

Shanks Spelling Variations

Shanks Spelling Variations

Over the years, Shanks has been written It appears under these variations because medieval scribes spelled names according to sound rather than by any over-arching set of rules. Shank, Shanke, Schank, Schanke, Shankis, Schankis, Shanks, Shanx, Schanx and many more.

Shanks Early History

Shanks Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shanks research. Another 213 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1426, 1489, 1490, 1620, 1630, 1636, 1643, 1725, and 1823 are included under the topic Early Shanks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shanks Early Notables (pre 1700)

Shanks Early Notables (pre 1700)

Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shanks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shanks In Ireland

Shanks In Ireland

Some of the Shanks family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 264 words (19 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

When these Boernician-Scottish settlers arrived in North America they brought little with them and often had restart their lives from scratch. Through time, much of their heritage was lost, and it is only this century through Clan societies and highland games that many have recovered their national heritage. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Shanks family to immigrate North America:

Shanks Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Shanks, who landed in Maryland in 1637-1640

John Shanks settled in Virginia in 1650

Abigail Shanks, who landed in Maryland in 1650

Shanks Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Edward Shanks, who landed in Jamaica in 1706-1707

John Shanks arrived in Virginia in 1734

Mathew Shanks settled in Charles Town, in 1766

Mr. Shanks settled in Boston in 1768 with his four children

Shanks Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Archibald Shanks, who landed in New York in 1808

William Shanks, who landed in New York, NY in 1815

Hugh Shanks, who arrived in Arkansas in 1889

Shanks Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Andrew Shanks, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Lieut. James Shanks U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John City], New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the Prince of Wales American Volunteers, became a Freeman in 1785 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X

Shanks Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

George Shanks, aged 30, a farmer, arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland

Shanks Historic Events

Shanks Historic Events

Mrs. Shanks, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion on 6th December 1917

Mr. John Shanks, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion on 6th December 1917

Motto

Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Other References

Shaw, William A. Knights of England A Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of all the Orders of Chivalry in England, Scotland, Ireland and Knights Bachelors 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print. (ISBN 080630443X).

Skordas, Guest. Ed. The Early Settlers of Maryland an Index to Names or Immigrants Complied from Records of Land Patents 1633-1680 in the Hall of Records Annapolis, Maryland. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1968. Print.

Colletta, John P. They Came In Ships. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1993. Print.

Innes, Thomas and Learney. Scots Heraldry A Practical Handbook on the Historical Principles and Mordern Application of the Art and Science. London: Oliver and Boyd, 1934. Print.

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The Shanks Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Shanks Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.